Strange
The atmosphere seemed to become even more awkward. Gu Sidu didn't know what was wrong with his sincere attitude. He looked around, trying to find a new reason for himself, when Jiang Yufan came to his rescue.
"Since you've made a mistake, wouldn't you like to have a chance to atone for it?"
Although she didn't know what Gu Sidu had done wrong, Jiang Yufan felt this was an excellent opportunity that she had to seize. She said, "Your future is uncertain, and you don't even know if the promotion is accurate. Are you willing to follow my orders? You'll do whatever I tell you to do."
“What’s so difficult about that?” Gu Sidu thought it was something important. He waved his hand and said, “Even if the Bodhisattva doesn’t say that, as long as the Bodhisattva gives the order, I can do anything for the Bodhisattva.”
This is a way to atone for his sins; it's a way out given to him by a soft-hearted bodhisattva. He has to take it; he has to make a grand display of his sincerity.
Gu Sidu placed the dishes and bowls next to Jiang Yufan, waved his hand, and knelt down on one knee in front of Jiang Yufan: "I am willing to serve you like a servant."
"From now on, you must tell me anything that happens at the Hanlin Academy."
“That’s natural.” Gu Sidu nodded. He had seen other newlywed couples do the same thing, with husbands who doted on their wives granting all their requests, just like he and the Bodhisattva were doing now.
In this day and age, they seem like an ordinary couple living the most mundane life.
Gu Sidu was overjoyed, but he and Jiang Yufan were of different minds, and Jiang Yufan was completely unaware of Gu Sidu's thoughts. Jiang Yufan had a new plan in mind. She was happy for Gu Sidu's straightforwardness, and those grudges temporarily dissipated. She could finally enjoy this delicious meal and sing and drink.
Jiang Yufan didn't forget to wet her handkerchief and let Gu Sidu wipe his hands, removing the knuckles from all the hard work he had done for her.
Jiang Yufan thanked Gu Sidu once again.
Very few people would do these things for Jiang Yufan; Gu Sidu is practically the only one.
The bright moon hangs in the sky, not yet full, but it already has the look of Mid-Autumn Festival. According to Gu Sidu, she has no family in the mortal world, but Gu Sidu can be her family and accompany her on the night of the full moon.
Although it may not seem like a family reunion, it is still a reunion.
"How wonderful! I wish I could be like this with the Bodhisattva every day, with no worries on my mind, just living for the moment and indulging in the moment," Gu Sidu exclaimed.
"Bodhisattva, I will come to you again during the Mid-Autumn Festival to drink and admire the moon. With me by your side, you will have no regrets on your day of reunion."
Gu Sidu is a man of his word. These past few days, Gu Sidu has been coming to drink with Jiang Yufan. The days without worries fly by. Today's Mid-Autumn Festival is quite different.
Even the servants noticed something was off. Why was the head of the family going to the Bodhisattva's place every day? Not wanting to disturb the head of the family and the Bodhisattva, they went to Daoyun's side to inquire about the situation.
Upon hearing these words, Dao Yun said irritably, "Your patriarch has improper intentions towards our Buddhist nun. It is your patriarch who is being presumptuous."
"This is incredible! I knew this Bodhisattva was no ordinary person. This Bodhisattva is our future mistress of the household, our matriarch!"
"Don't talk nonsense." Daoyun was even angrier when she heard this. What kind of mistress of the house was that? That was blasphemy against the Buddhist nun.
The petty rumors didn't affect Gu Sidu at all. Gu Sidu still came to see Jiang Yufan whenever he had free time, and he still came to see Jiang Yufan even when he didn't have time.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, Gu Sidu went to the Hanlin Academy to report for duty, and because he was busy, he rarely came to see Jiang Yufan.
Could it be that Gu Sidu didn't agree and didn't tell Jiang Yufan what had happened these past few days? Jiang Yufan was worried about this, but Daoyun didn't care. Daoyun just wiped his sword and said to Jiang Yufan, "Buddha, don't worry, Gu Sidu certainly wouldn't dare not come to tell you the news."
"Why?" Jiang Yufan asked.
"Gu Sidu is a man who won't miss an opportunity to come to you. Just wait and see. He's probably busy right now, but he'll come to you once he's done."
"What kind of talk is that?" Jiang Yufan frowned.
"Haven't you realized it yet? You are a Buddhist nun, and you have never had any worldly desires. But Gu Sidu is a mortal, and he has many feelings for you. He has become attached to you."
Just then, as Dao Yun finished speaking, footsteps approached from outside. No one was in sight, but the cry of "Bodhisattva, save me!" drifted into the room. Gu Sidu's steps slowed down before he followed.
And here comes Cao Cao.
Indeed, one shouldn't overthink things. Keeping worries in your heart will only cause more worries. Things will always have their own course of development, and you can't force them to change.
But Gu Sidu has come, and that's good.
Jiang Yufan sat up straight, and when Gu Sidu leaned over and shouted "Buddha, save me!" again, she gently pursed her lips and said, "Get lost."
"Bodhisattva, this is no child's play. You promised to help me, you can't go back on your word." Gu Sidu clasped his hands together and pleaded with the Bodhisattva.
"Then tell me, has anything happened?" Gu Sidu's move was exactly what Jiang Yufan wanted. She wanted to play hard to get so that she could speak naturally.
"Here's what happened, let me tell you slowly." Since the Bodhisattva was willing to help him, Gu Sidu was saved. He told Jiang Yufan everything that had happened at the Hanlin Academy that day.
Originally, it was just a routine attendance check-in. The joy of passing the imperial examination had faded, and everyone was quietly waiting for the big achievements in the spring of the following year. However, things were not peaceful in the Hanlin Academy.
Gu Sidu was originally doing his own chores in a peaceful manner, but there were always envious people who wouldn't stop and harbored many malicious intentions towards him. They came to Gu Sidu in all sorts of difficult situations. Gu Sidu made no fewer than several trips that morning to do chores for them, serving tea and water.
If it were just these things, it wouldn't be so bad. What Gu Sidu couldn't stand the most were the rumors and gossip.
"Oh dear, it's too much trouble for you, Lord Gu, to do all this for us. You're really wasting your talents."
"That's true. If Lord Gu climbs the social ladder next year, we won't be able to use him anymore."
"You should all learn from him. If you could learn the methods of Lord Gu, who would need to work hard? All you need to do is give away a jade pendant to gain a lifetime of wealth and honor. Tomorrow, everyone can go to Chenxiang Temple and wait for the jade pendant."
Gu Sidu gritted his teeth and endured it all; he wouldn't stoop to their level. When he was buried in the Hanlin Academy, no one paid him any attention, but once he gained something, all those envious eyes turned towards him, criticizing him for receiving recognition.
No one cared about the hardships Gu Sidu had endured.
This is illogical and unreasonable.
Gu Sidu still didn't intend to argue with them, but his concession only emboldened them to become even more aggressive.
"Lord Gu, could you share your experience with us? Is it that we just need to show off our talents like you do, and let our poems be recited everywhere, so that people will notice us and create momentum for us?"
Those poems were written by Gu Sidu after a long period of suffering, but in other people's mouths, they became a gimmick to create hype, mystify, and attract attention.
Gu Sidu could not tolerate this.
He slammed his teacup on the table and turned to leave. The voices didn't stop; instead, they grew even more aggressive because of his outburst: "Why did you throw it? He's angry. Doesn't he care what others say if he's so determined?"
Who do you think you are?
Gu Sidu was furious. He rode home on horseback, ignoring the greetings from passersby. Once home, he handed the horse over to a servant to fetch and feed it. He then went inside and punched and kicked the suspended object in mid-air for a long time before stopping.
He was furious! Gu Sidu wanted to curse his colleagues with every vicious word he knew, but then he thought that if the curses came true, his colleagues would really suffer. Thinking of this, Gu Sidu sighed in frustration.
Gu Sidu wanted to take his anger out on the vase, but it was his favorite vase, an heirloom from his family. No, no, it wasn't worth breaking it.
If vases don't work, then Gu Sidu thought of some ancient books and went to frantically search for the catalogs he had collected. The seals of famous collectors on them saved these ancient books.
Never mind, nothing in this room can be damaged.
Gu Sidu took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and finally composed himself. It's alright, it's alright, no need to get angry, no need to provoke these petty people. You can't talk about ice with a summer insect; they're like ephemeral fungus, ignorant and arrogant. He couldn't let them gain power and end up getting hurt himself.
So Gu Sidu came to Jiang Yufan crying.
Only the Bodhisattva can save him.
Gu Sidu should have received a promotion order, but instead of one, he was met with ridicule and sarcasm from his colleagues. Something was amiss.
Jiang Yufan wasn't surprised when she heard this; she lowered her head and smiled.
Why is the Bodhisattva laughing?
Jiang Yufan said, "Your colleagues' ridicule is out of envy. This is something you must go through after you have attained enlightenment. It is jealousy at play. But Gu Sidu, you have not received any news, and Jiang Yaoguang has not contacted you. This is what is truly frightening."
"Perhaps Lord Jiang is too busy and hasn't found a good opportunity yet?" Gu Sidu pondered, thinking that it wasn't impossible.
“I’m afraid that’s not the case,” Jiang Yufan said with a smile. “Gu Sidu, you’ve seen far more of this kind of intrigue than I have.”
Jiang Yufan heard many stories and experiences of those ordinary people seeking promotion and wealth in the Chenxiang Temple, during the days when she was dressed as Guanyin. These painful stories and experiences were not unique to Gu Sidu; they have been the same since ancient times.
Jiang Yufan witnessed too many human hearts at Chenxiang Temple.
She said, "Gu Sidu, you need to do something for me. If you succeed, you'll understand why you haven't received your promotion order."
Jiang Yufan had already grasped the key to this.
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